Yesterday was world environment day, established in 1972 by the United Nations Assembly with the purpose of raising awareness of environmental issues across the board, from global warming and marine pollution to over population. The first World Environment day happened in 1974, themed ‘Only on earth’. World Environment Day is seen as platform for action …
National Grid announced earlier this month that the UK had its first coal free electricity week in a 100yrs. This is in line with the Government plans to phase out coal entirely by 2025 and marks the first week since the UK’s first coal-fired power station opened the Holborn Viaduct Power Station in 1882. This …
Last night UK MP’s approved a motion to declare an ‘environment and climate emergency’, this was on the back of the Welsh assembly and the SNP also declaring a ‘climate emergency’ earlier in the week with the SNP also pledging today that Scotland will have a target of net-zero emissions by 2045. A report commissioned …
Last week, National Grid System Operator released their “System Operator Innovation Strategy” for 2019/20. This listed their top 10 priorities for 2019/20, with system stability now at the top. This move in priorities from National Grid has been motivated by a need to enable more non-synchronous generation i.e. renewable energy – primarily wind and solar …
Last Monday saw wholesale energy prices dip to negative levels for more than six hours meaning suppliers where having to pay to produce energy, forcing National Grid to order power plants to turn down production. This event was off the back of unseasonably warm and bright conditions meaning more of the public where outside enjoying …
The wind doesn’t always blow, the sun doesn’t always shine. It can’t be relied on to match consumer demand for electricity, meaning other sources of generation are need to be ready as back up i.e. gas, coal or nuclear. Currently renewable generation is switched off when not required (curtailment). This means that potential renewable energy …
On Wednesday the UK Government announced a Sector deal with the offshore wind industry that would see 30% of UK power coming from offshore wind by 2030, increasing capacity from 7.9GW currently to 30 GW. The remaining 70% is planned to come from nuclear and Gas plants with carbon capture but with 5 of the …
As the climate summit COP24 (Conference of Parties) in Katowice, Poland this week stark warnings emerged with senior figures stating that the “world is at a crossroads” and that climate change was now a “matter of life and death.” Sir David Attenborough speaking at the summit opening said “The world’s people have spoken – time …
A new report from the Institution of Engineers in Scotland (IESIS) has claimed that a massive gap in the electricity system caused by the closure of coal-fired power stations and growth of unpredictable renewable generation has created the real prospect of complete power failure which could lead to sustained black-outs and power outages. They go …
In the wake of the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report last week the focus on what can be done to remedy the situation has intensified. Carbon emissions must be reduced – and even reversed – on both macro and micro levels with everybody contributing, from governments to corporations to individuals. The …
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